Loading and unloading machine



Oct; 13, 1936 I J. E. VALI E' IiAL LOADING AND UNLOADING. MACHINE FiledNov. 3, 1934 Avnew raps.

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Warm 441% Patented Oct. 13, 1936 LOADING AND UNLOADING MACHINE JohnEddie van, Wener Vail, Stainor Vali, and Walter Vali, Sylvan Lake,Alberta, Canada Application November 3,1934, Serial No. 751,288

In Canada November 20. 1933 4 Claims.

This invention relates to loading and unloading machines generally andmore particularly to improved means of this description for loading,

transporting and unloading material such as grain and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide loading and unloadingapparatus adapted to or built into a motor truck where in combinationwith the truck grain and such like can be quickly and prisesan elevatorprovided with an unloading or 20 discharge spout, a conveyorco-operative with the elevator, selectively or collectively operabletherewith through a common shaft, in turn operable by a suitable power.take-ofl shaft, and manually. operable means associated with the 25elevator for locking the movable parts thereof such as the bucket line.a

The invention will be best understood by reference tothe followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying illustrations30 of specific forms or embodiments-thereof, while the scope of theinvention will be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring now to the drawings and to the embodiments of the inventiontherein disclosed for 5 illustrative purposes only, in which likenumerals ,of reference indicate corresponding parts in each Fig. 1 is asectional elevation of a truck equipped with the loading and unloadingmecha- 4o nism or apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a sectional end view of the elevator showing the clamps forholding the bucket line stationary when in transit from one point toanother. 45 Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

Fig. 4 is a detail of a modified formof the apparatus. A

Referring now more particularly to the drawing in which for example aconventional truck 50 body A with sides I is shown equipped with loadingand unloading mechanism or apparatus for grain and the like, and whichmay be detachably connected to, or built into, the body I. The mechanismor apparatus comprises an elevator 55 2, as here shown, of standardgrain elevator type,

but other types may, as required, be used. A suitable casing 3 isprovided for the elevator, co-

operating with and adapted to extend through the floor Sa e! the body,as at 4. Within the casing 3 is the bucket line 5 with pairs of bucket 5chain wheels 6 and I, the top wheels 6 being suitably supported onashaft 6a, while the lower bucket wheels I are mounted on a shaft 8extending beneath the floor 3a of the body I, and hereinafter more fullyreferred to. It may here be 10 noted that the bucket chain wheels 1 area loose running flt on the shaft 8, which allows an auger 8 on the saidshaft 8 to rotate at a different speed to the member I, and thusprovides co-operative relationship in operation between the elevator 2l5 and the feed auger 9. This auger or spiral feed 9 rotates in asuitable casing in positioned longitudinally in or immediately beneaththe-floor 3a of the body i, sufllcientroom being provided between thefloor and the auger for chutes and volume regulator shutter (not shown)for regulating the volume and conducting the material being handled ontothe auger ii. Belt-pulleys may be used instead of chain wheels.

The elevator 2, as here shown, is driven from the top through the shaft60, the bucket chain wheels B and sprocket II on the shaft 6a, andconnected by a chain l2 to a sprocket i3 on the auger shaft 9, so thatthe latter rotates irrespectively of the bucket chainwheels l looselymounted thereon; or the auger shaft 9 may form the shaftfor the bottomof the bucket line 5.

For unloading or discharging material such as grain or the like weprovide the elevator 2 with a swingingly mounted discharge chute M ofany suitable length, with or without extensions, and at a convenientpoint in chute M a suitably arranged fan blower i5 to assist in themovement of material-being loaded or unloaded. This blower is operatedfrom the top shaft 6a of the elevator through a suitable drive It.

Referring now to the loading or feed means mechanism, this comprises theauger 9 already described, and which may be provided with an extensionauger for the intake of material from the point of loading, and isprovided with a suitable casing l8 tapered at one end as at IS, with avolume control gate 20 having an operating handle 2|. The extensionauger I1 is driven with the -main auger 9 through a universal coupling22,

while the casing I8 is coupled to the casing III by means of a flexiblecollar band 23. The blower I! may be otherwise located as required.

A feature of the invention includes the means for preventing the bucketline 5 of the elevator 5 from moving when in transit, and comprisesbeing moved downwardly, the toggle members 25 are moved to a horizontalposition to pressthe presser bars or plates 24 against the bucket lineand thus retain it rigidly against vibration while the body istravelling from one point to another with the elevator inoperative.

The power for driving the apparatus is derived from an engine (notshown), and is transmitted through a power take-off shaft 28 providedwith a safety clutch 29 to prevent breakage or damage caused by jammingetc. On this shaft is a sprocket 30 connected by the chain l2 to thesprocket I l on the shaft 6a, and intermediately engaging with thesprocket I3 on the auger shaft 8, so that in operation the powertake-off shaft 28 is rotated causing the bucket line 5 to operatethrough the shaft 6a', and at the same time rotating through thesprocket ii the shaft 9 with the loosely mounted bucket chain wheels Ithereon, as already explained.

In Fig. 4 instead of the auger feed we may use a chute or chutes 3|inserted in the floor 311. of the truck I, while the elevator 2 ispositioned centrally instead of at the end of the body, as shown inFigs. 1 and 3. This construction is particularly adapted to meetrequirements when more than one chute 3| is employed, as by centrallypositioning the elevator, room is made for another chute or chutes, andalso particularly applies when the mechanism is required for unloadingpurposes only, when the extension can be dispensed with and only the boxauger unit or the chutes 3| are employed.

It will be understood that one or more auger feeds 8 in the bottom ofthe body may be added parallel to one another to form twin or multiplefeed, or the same feed may be continued from the back of the truck tothe discharge chute It, thus vator 2 to discharge the material, soloaded, either into the truck or elsewhere by means ofthe'dischargechute ll. while the truck is travelling, the lever handle 26 has beenoperated to practically lock the bucket line of the elevator, and

thus eliminate damage thereto by vibration while the bodyis travellingfrom one point to another.

Various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theinvention above set forth without departing from the real purpose andspirit thereof, and it is the intention to cover by the following claimsany modified forms of structure or use of equivalents, which mayreasonably be included within their scope. What we claim for ourinvention is:'

1. In a device of the character described for loading, transporting andunloading grain and the like, and in combination, a load-receiving body,an elevator suitably mounted on the body, a loading conveyor providedwith a swingable extension co-operative with the elevator arrangedbeneath the body, a shaft common to the elevator and to the conveyor andmeans for transmitting power tosaid shaft.

2. In a transportable device of the character described, in combination,a load-receiving body, an elevator associated with said body, a conveyorbeneath the body communicating with the elevator and means forsimultaneously operating the elevator and the conveyor, manuallyoperable meansassociated with the elevator for looking it, comprisingpresser plates suitably mounted relative to the elevator units andnormally out of contact therewith, pivotally mounted cross-membersassociated with the presser plates and lever means for manuallyoperating said members from with out to operate the presser plates toengage with and bear against the elevator units.

3. In a device of the character described,'a bucket line elevator andmeans for locking the elevator comprising movably mounted pressureplates in substantially vertical alignment with the bucket line, andnormally out of contact therewith, toggle cross rods pivotallyassociated with said plates and means for operating the rods to causethe pressure plates to clamp and lock the bucket line.

4. In a device of the character described, for loading, transporting andunloading grain and the like, and in combination, a load-receiving body,an elevator suitably mounted on the body, a loading conveyor providedwith a swingable extension co-operative with the elevator, a shaftcommon to the elevator and to the conveyor, and means for transmittingpower from the truck to said shaft.

JOHN EDDIE VALI. WENER VALI. STAINOR VALI. WALTER VALI.

